NL2012622A

NL2012622A - A floor for on a deck of a vessel, a connection element thereof, a framework thereof, a vessel, and a method for assembling said floor.

Info

Publication number: NL2012622A
Application number: NL2012622A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Pieter Daniël Dees Marco
Original assignee: Demar Holding B V; Pemabel Beheer B V
Priority date: 2014-04-15
Filing date: 2014-04-15
Publication date: 2016-01-28
Also published as: NL2012622B1

Description

Title: A floor for on a deck of a vessel, a connection element thereof, a framework thereof, a vessel, and a method for assembling said floor

The invention relates to a floor to be installed or that is arranged on a deck of a vessel, a connection element thereof, a framework thereof, a vessel comprising such a floor and a method for assembling said floor.

When assembling a vessel, the main structure of the vessel including the decks are usually welded together to form a rigid structure. After assembling the main structure the decks may be provided with a floor that is supported from the deck at a distance thereof so that hoses, cables and the like can be arranged in between the deck and the floor.

An important requirement of the floor is the flatness. Providing a flat floor has been found to be challenging because the floor usually has to be formed on a non-flat deck caused for instance by deformations introduced during the welding process of the main structure.

Prior art solutions so far have not resulted in sufficiently flat floors and/or require complex and thus expensive alignment procedures. An example thereof is a prior art solution in which coupling plates with a threaded hole are connected to the threaded rods of an array of supports arranged on the deck, wherein the coupling plates need to be aligned in height and may be interconnected by beams to form a framework for a floor. In a simple alignment procedure the coupling plates are provided at the same height, but this is not a guarantee for a flat floor due to deviations in the orientation of the threaded rods. To guarantee a flat floor, the alignment procedure becomes complex as the orientation of the threaded rods need to be corrected if necessary. However, correcting the orientation of the threaded rods and subsequently arranging the coupling plates thereto may eventually result in a flat floor, but there is no guarantee that there are no undesired stresses in the framework in case of a framework connected to the coupling plates.

Hence, it is an object of the invention to more easily provide a flat floor on a deck of a vessel even when the deck of the vessel is non-flat.

This object is achieved by providing a coupling element for a floor on a deck of a vessel, comprising: - a fastener with a threaded hole to mate with a threaded rod, said threaded hole defining a traveling direction in which the fastener moves relative to the threaded rod when rotated about a longitudinal axis of the threaded rod; - a coupling plate; and - a bearing connecting the fastener to the coupling plate and allowing the fastener to rotate relative to the coupling plate about an axis parallel to the traveling direction and to pivot relative to the coupling plate about two orthogonal directions that are each perpendicular to the traveling direction, wherein the fastener, coupling plate and bearing are configured such that the fastener supports the bearing and the bearing in turn supports the coupling plate.

The invention is based on the insight that in the prior art the position of the coupling plates relative to the threaded rods can only be adjusted in height and an angular orientation about an axis parallel to the traveling direction, but deviations in all other four degrees of freedom are not easy to compensate for. However, the chance of these deviations occurring is high as it is difficult to align the threaded rods of the support members, especially on a non-flat deck of the vessel.

An advantage of the coupling element according to the invention is that a bearing is provided between the fastener and the coupling plate, so that the coupling plate can additionally be aligned in two pivot directions and thus be oriented parallel to a flat plane parallel to the floor to be formed even when the threaded rod is non-perpendicular to said flat plane.

In an embodiment, the coupling plate is made of a fireproof material such as a metal or a ceramic material. This is advantageous as for vessels, the demands for fire preventing or retardant measures is high. Hence, the use of plastics or the like is usually discouraged or not recommended. Preferably, the bearing and fastener are also made of metal or a ceramic material for at least the most part.

In an embodiment, the bearing is a spherical plain bearing allowing the rotation and pivoting of the fastener relative to the coupling plate. Hence, the bearing may comprise an outer ring connected to the coupling plate, an inner ring connected to the fastener, and a locking feature that makes the inner ring captive within the outer ring in the axial direction only. The locking feature does not necessarily have to be a separate element. The locking feature may also be a characteristic of the inner and outer ring and how they mate with each other. The locking feature may e.g. be a form-fit.

The outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring may in such an embodiment be toroidal and are collectively considered the raceway as they slide against each other, either with a lubricant, a maintenance-free based liner, or they incorporate a rolling element such as a race of ball-bearings, allowing lower friction.

In an embodiment, the fastener comprises a head allowing it to be rotated about the axis parallel to the traveling direction by a tool. This allows the coupling element to remain compact. Further, the tool may be provided with a scale or mark to easily align the height of the coupling element as will be explained later in relation to a method for assembling a floor.

In an embodiment, the coupling plate comprises at least two distinct coupling areas, wherein a beam can be connected to each coupling area, and wherein the at least two coupling areas are configured such that beams can be connected at different positions within the respective coupling area.

By configuring the coupling areas to allow beams to be connected at different positions to the respective coupling area of the coupling plate misalignments in the horizontal positions of the threaded rods can be compensated for without introducing undesired stresses in the beams and/or coupling elements.

In an embodiment, the coupling plate comprises two distinct coupling areas extending from the fastener in respective directions that make an angle of 90 degrees. Such a coupling plate may advantageously be used in a corner of the floor or deck.

In an embodiment, the coupling plate comprises three distinct coupling areas extending from the fastener in respective directions that resemble a T-shape. Such a coupling plate may advantageously be used at a side of the floor or deck.

In an embodiment, the coupling plate comprises four distinct coupling areas extending from the fastener in respective directions that resemble a cross. Such a coupling plate may advantageously be used in the middle of the floor or deck.

In an embodiment, each coupling area comprises an indentation to mate with a protrusion on a beam when the beam is connected to the coupling area. This allows to easily align the beam and coupling element. Preferably, the indentation extends all the way to the circumference of the coupling plate.

In an embodiment, the coupling element further comprises a floor support to be connected to an upper surface of the coupling plate and extending beyond the perimeter of the coupling plate to support a floor thereon.

The invention also relates to a framework for a floor on a deck of a vessel, comprising multiple beams and multiple coupling elements according to the invention, wherein the coupling elements interconnect the multiple beams to form the framework, and wherein the coupling elements are configured to be arranged on an array of threaded rods to support the framework at a distance from the deck of the vessel.

In an embodiment, the coupling areas of the coupling elements comprise an indentation, wherein the beams comprise a corresponding protrusion to mate with the indentation of a coupling area, and wherein the indentation extends in two orthogonal directions so that the protrusion while mating with the indentation is still moveable in said two orthogonal directions so that the beams can be connected at different positions within the respective coupling areas.

The invention further relates to a floor comprising multiple coupling elements according to the invention, and multiple floor elements directly or indirectly supported by the coupling elements.

In an embodiment, the floor further comprises an array of supports with threaded rods to keep the floor at a distance from a deck of a vessel, wherein the coupling elements of the framework are arranged on the threaded rods of the array of supports. The array of supports with the threaded rods may be welded to a deck of a vessel, but may also be glued to the deck instead of being welded. To this end, the supports may comprise a plate element to which a threaded rod is attached, e.g. by welding, and which plate element can easily be glued to the deck. Between the plate element and the deck there may be provided resilient material to dampen vibrations.

In an embodiment, the floor further comprises multiple beams, wherein the coupling elements interconnect the multiple beams to form a framework in order to support the floor elements. Preferably a resilient material is arranged between the multiple beams and the floor elements supported by said multiple beams. This material, e.g. in the form of an elastomer, for instance a polyurethane foam or the like, may dampen vibrations to minimize nuisance.

In an embodiment, each of the multiple coupling elements comprises a floor support connected to an upper surface of the respective coupling plate and extending beyond the perimeter of the respective coupling plate to support a floor elements thereon. Preferably, a resilient material is arranged between the floor supports and the floor elements supported by said floor supports. This material, e.g. in the form of an elastomer, for instance a polyurethane foam or the like, may dampen vibrations to minimize nuisance.

The invention also relates to a vessel comprising a deck and a floor arranged on said deck, wherein the floor is a floor according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method for assembling a floor on a deck of a vessel, said method comprising the following steps: a. providing an array of supports on the deck of the vessel, wherein each support comprises a threaded rod extending substantially vertically from the deck of the vessel; b. arranging a coupling element according to the invention on each of the threaded rods; and c. aligning the coupling elements to lie in a flat plane.

In an embodiment, aligning the coupling elements to lie in a flat plane comprises the following steps: c1. providing an optical signal representing a flat plane; c2. providing a tool to rotate the fasteners of the coupling elements relative to the respective threaded rod, wherein the tool comprises a scale to determine the relative position of the tool with respect to the optical signal; and c3. rotating the fasteners of the coupling elements using the tool until for each coupling element the relative position of the tool with respect to the optical signal is the same.

In an embodiment, the optical signal is provided by a laser.

In an embodiment, the optical signal is a laser beam that is scanned in the flat plane.

In an embodiment, the position of the fasteners relative to the respective threaded rod is fixed after aligning the coupling elements to lie in a flat plane.

The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols, and in which:

Fig. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a coupling element according to the invention;

Fig. 2 depicts in perspective view a fastener of the coupling element of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 depicts in perspective view a tool to engage with a head of the fastener of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 depicts in perspective view a coupling plate of the coupling element of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 depicts in perspective view a detail of a beam to be connected to the coupling element of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 depicts in perspective view a framework according to the invention arranged on a deck of a vessel; and

Fig. 7 depicts in perspective view a portion of the framework of Fig. 6 including the tool of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a coupling element CE according to the invention to form a floor on a deck of a vessel. The coupling element CE comprises a fastener FA with a threaded hole TH to mate with a threaded rod (not shown), wherein said threaded hole TH defines a traveling direction TD in which the fastener FA moves relative to the threaded rod when rotated about a longitudinal axis LA of the threaded rod.

The coupling element CE further comprises a coupling plate CP that can be connected to beams (not shown) to form a framework, and a bearing BE connecting the fastener FA to the coupling plate CP. The fastener FA, coupling plate CP and bearing BE are configured such that the fastener FA supports the bearing BE and the bearing BE in turn supports the coupling plate CP.

The bearing is in this embodiment a spherical plain bearing with an outer ring OR connected to the coupling plate CP and an inner ring IR connected to the fastener FA, wherein the inner ring IR is captive within the outer ring OR in the axial direction only, i.e. in the traveling direction only. The inner ring IR is allowed to rotate relative to the outer ring OR about an axis parallel to the traveling direction TD and to pivot relative to the outer ring OR about two orthogonal directions that are each perpendicular to the traveling direction TD.

Due to the outer ring OR being connected to the coupling plate CP and the inner ring IR being connected to the fastener FA, the fastener FA is allowed to rotate relative to the coupling plate about an axis substantially parallel to the traveling direction TD and to pivot relative to the coupling plate about two orthogonal directions that are each substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction TD.

The fastener FA is shown in more detail in Fig. 2 in which the fastener FA is shown in unassembled form and in a perspective view.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the fastener FA comprises a sleeve SL with a threaded hole TH and a flange FL. The flange FL can advantageously be used to support the bearing BE as shown in Fig. 1.

At an upper side of the fastener FA is shown a head HE of the fastener FA allowing it to be rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the traveling direction TD by a tool. The head HE of the fastener FA therefor comprises notches NO distributed along the circumferential edge around the threaded hole TH.

The notches NO allow the head HE of the fastener FA to be engaged by a tool TO as shown in perspective view in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 depicts in perspective view a tool TO with a handle HA at an upper portion UP thereof, an elongated middle portion MP and a lower portion LP configured to engage with the head HE of the fastener of Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the lower portion LP comprises protrusions PR that are able to mate with the notches NO of the head HE of the fastener FA of Fig. 2. When the protrusions PR mate with the corresponding notches NO, rotation of the tool TO about a longitudinal axis AX by operating the handle HA will result in rotation of the fastener FA about an axis parallel to the traveling direction TD.

The handle HA extends sideways compared to the middle portion MP to increase the torque that can be applied to the tool, thereby making it easier to rotate the fastener.

The middle portion MP may be provided with a scale or a mark M that can be used to easily align the coupling elements CE with respect to each other after they have been arranged on threaded rods as will be explained below.

Fig. 4 depicts in perspective view the coupling plate CP of the coupling element of Fig. 1. It is clearly shown here that the coupling plate comprises a hole HO for receiving the bearing BE and the fastener FA as indicated in Fig. 1. For simplicity reasons, the bearing and fastener are not shown in Fig. 4.

Extending from the hole, i.e. the center of the coupling plate, are four coupling areas CA to which beams can be attached.

Fig. 5 depicts an example of a beam B that can be connected to a coupling area CA of the coupling plate CP of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 only depicts a portion of the beam, but a skilled person will understand how the beam can continue with the same cross section for any length conceivable.

The beam B comprises a protrusion PO to engage with an indentation IN of the coupling area CA as shown in Fig. 4. The indentation have a length L and a width W1 as shown in Fig. 4 for one indentation only. The protrusion PO of the beam B has a width W2, wherein the width W2 is smaller than the width W1. Due to the width W2 being smaller than the width W1 the beam can be positioned in multiple positions seen in this width direction. This allows to compensate for any deviations in the position in width direction of the coupling plates that may be caused by deviations in the position of a threaded rod the coupling plate is attached to.

The same applies to the length direction. Due to the indentation IN extending all the way to the perimeter of the coupling plate, the position of the beam relative to the coupling plate can be changed as well in the length direction. In this way, any deviations in the distance between two coupling plates that are interconnected by a beam B can be compensated for.

The beam B further comprises holes H allowing screws or bolts or any other attachment means to extend through the holes H for attaching the beams B to a coupling plate CP.

Fig. 6 depicts a deck DE of a vessel. The deck is provided with supports in the form of threaded rods TR that are in this embodiment welded to the deck and are arranged in an array. The threaded rods TR extend substantially vertically from the deck DE. Due to the non-flatness of the deck DE and the welding process, it is in practice difficult to arrange the threaded rods TR perpendicular to a flat plane parallel to the floor to be formed. And even in case the threaded rods TR are perpendicular to the flat plane, the position in horizontal direction may deviate from the desired position.

Arranged on the threaded rods TR are coupling elements CE according to the invention, in this coupling elements CE according to Fig. 1. The fasteners of the coupling elements are screwed onto the threaded rods TR using the threaded holes of the fasteners. To screw the fasteners of the coupling elements onto the threaded rods, use may be made of a tool according to Fig. 3 as for instance shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 depicts a portion of the framework of Fig. 6 and shows a threaded rod TR, a coupling element CE and a tool TO. In Fig. 7, the tool TO engages with the fastener, so that the protrusions PR are received in the notches NO of the fastener. As a result thereof, the fastener is no longer visible in Fig. 7. The bearing including outer ring OR and inner ring IR can be clearly seen. By rotating the tool TO in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the fastener will travel along the length of the threaded rod TR as indicated by traveling direction TD that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the threaded rod.

The tool TO can be used to set the height of the fastener as part of the alignment process. To this end, an optical signal may be provided, for instance by a laser that quickly scans a laser beam back and forth in a flat plane parallel to the floor to be formed. This optical signal is preferably at a height level such that it is visible on the scale/mark M of the tool TO as an optical line or dot. The scale on the tool allows to rotate the tool and thus to set the fasteners at a desired distance from the optical signal. When all fasteners are set at the same distance from the optical signal using the tool TO, an important step in creating a flat floor is taken.

Once the fasteners are set to the desired height, the fasteners are preferably fixed relative to the threaded rods to prevent any future deviations from the desired height that may for instance be caused by vibrations.

As shown in Fig. 2, the threaded hole TH of the fastener may be provided with a slot ST extending in the traveling direction. This slot allows to inject an adhesive in between the fastener and a threaded rod to fix the position of the fastener relative to the threaded rod.

The bearing between the fastener and the coupling plate of a coupling element allows to orient the coupling plate parallel to the flat plane which in turn is parallel to the floor to be formed independent of the angular orientation of the threaded rod relative to the flat plane. Hence, any deviations in the orientation of the threaded rod from the desired perpendicular orientation can be compensated for by the bearing and subsequently pivoting the coupling plate relative to the fastener.

Once the threaded rods are provided with coupling elements, beams B can be provided in between the coupling elements to interconnect the coupling elements to form the framework as shown in Fig. 6. Due to the coupling areas of the coupling plate allowing to connect the beams at different positions, any deviations from the desired position of the coupling element in the horizontal directions parallel to the flat plane can be compensated for by connecting the beams at another location to the coupling element thereby preventing stresses in the framework.

In a preferred embodiment, the coupling elements are adjusted to the desired height before the beams are connected to the coupling elements, but it is also possible to set the coupling elements to the desired height after connecting the beams to the coupling elements.

The end result is a framework with a flat upper surface to which floor elements can be connected. The flat upper surface is obtained independent of the shape of the deck below the floor and more or less independent of the orientation and position of the threaded rods.

In an alternative embodiment, the coupling elements are not interconnected by beams, but floor supports, e.g. made from plate material, are provided and connected to an upper surface of the respective floor supports. The floor supports preferably extend beyond the perimeter of the coupling plates, so that a grid of floor supports is formed that is able to support floor elements forming the final floor.

In between the beams B and the floor elements or between the floor supports and the floor elements, a resilient material may be provided to dampen vibrations.

Although the threaded rods in the examples described above are welded to the deck of a vessel, other attachment principles may also be used. An example thereof is that the threaded rods are welded to or integrally formed with a plate element extending perpendicular to the threaded rods and the plate element is attached to the deck via welding, gluing or any other suitable attachment principle. An advantage of using the plate element is that the resilient material to dampen vibrations can alternatively or additionally be applied here. Another advantage of the plate element is that it is easier to provide the threaded rods in a later stage, for instance, only once the floor is being build.

Claims

A coupling element for a floor on a deck of a vessel, comprising: - a fixing element with a threaded hole for coupling with a threaded end, wherein the threaded hole defines a direction of movement in which the fixing element moves relative to the threaded end when it is rotated around a threaded end longitudinal axis of the threaded end; - a coupling plate; and - a bearing connecting the mounting element to the coupling plate and allowing the mounting element to rotate with respect to the coupling plate about an axis parallel to the direction of movement and to pivot relative to the coupling plate about two orthogonal directions each of which is perpendicular be in the direction of movement, wherein the fixing element, the coupling plate and the bearing are arranged such that the fixing element carries the bearing and the bearing in turn carries the coupling plate.

A coupling element according to claim 1, wherein the coupling plate is made of metal or a ceramic material, and preferably the bearing and the fixing element are also made of at least the largest part of metal or ceramic material.

A coupling element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bearing is a spherical plain bearing.

A coupling element as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the fixing element has a head that makes it possible to rotate it by means of a tool about an axis that is parallel to the direction of movement.

A coupling element as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the coupling plate comprises at least two separate coupling areas, wherein a beam can be connected to each coupling area, and wherein the at least two coupling areas are arranged such that beams at different places within the respective coupling areas can be connected.

A coupling element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coupling plate comprises two separate coupling regions which extend from the mounting element in respective directions making an angle of 90 degrees.

A coupling element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coupling plate comprises three separate coupling regions which extend from the fixing element in respective directions and resemble a T-shape.

A coupling element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coupling plate comprises four separate coupling regions which extend from the fixing element in respective directions and resemble a cross.

A coupling element as claimed in one or more of claims 5 to 8, wherein each coupling area has a reduction for coupling with a protruding part on a beam when the beam is connected to the coupling area.

A coupling element according to claim 9, wherein the reduction extends to the circumference of the coupling plate.

A coupling element according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a floor support for connecting to an upper surface of the coupling plate and extending beyond the periphery of the coupling plate to support a floor thereon.

A framework for a floor on a deck on a vessel, comprising a plurality of beams and a plurality of coupling elements according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein the coupling elements interconnect the plurality of beams to form a framework, and wherein coupling elements are arranged to be arranged on a row of threaded ends to support the framework at a distance from the deck of the vessel.

A framework according to claim 12, wherein the coupling areas of the coupling elements comprise a lowering, the beams comprising a corresponding protruding part for coupling to the lowering of a coupling area, and wherein the lowering extends in two orthogonal directions such that part when it is coupled to the reduction is still movable in the two orthogonal directions so that the beams can be connected at different places within the coupling areas.

A floor comprising: - a plurality of coupling elements according to one or more of claims 1 to 11; and - multiple floor elements that are supported directly or indirectly by the coupling elements.

A floor according to claim 14, further comprising a row of supports with wire ends to keep the floor at a distance from a deck of a vessel, the coupling elements of the framework being arranged on the wire ends of the row of supports.

A floor according to claims 14 and 15, further comprising a plurality of beams, wherein the coupling elements interconnect the plurality of beams to form a lattice to support the floor elements.

A floor according to claim 16, wherein a resilient material is disposed between the plurality of beams and the floor elements supported by the plurality of beams.

A floor according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the plurality of coupling elements are coupling elements according to claim 11, and wherein a floor support is connected to each upper surface of the respective coupling plates to support the floor elements.

A floor according to claim 18, wherein a resilient material is disposed between the floor supports and the floor elements supported by the floor supports.

A vessel comprising a deck and a floor mounted on the deck, wherein the floor is a floor according to one or more of claims 14-19.

A method of assembling a floor on a deck of a vessel, the method comprising the steps of: a. Providing a row of supports on the deck of the vessel, each support comprising a threaded end located in extends substantially vertically from the deck of the vessel; b. applying a coupling element according to one of claims 1 to 11 to each of the thread ends; and c. aligning the coupling elements to lie in a flat plane.

A method according to claim 21, wherein the alignment of the coupling elements around a flat surface comprises the following steps: c1. providing an optical signal that displays a flat surface; c2. Providing a tool for rotating the fastening elements of the coupling elements relative to the respective wire end, the tool comprising a scale for determining the relative position of the tool relative to the optical signal; and c3. rotating the fastening elements of the coupling elements by means of the tool until the relative position of the tool relative to the optical signal is equal for each coupling element.

A method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the position of the fastening elements relative to the respective threaded ends is fixed after aligning the coupling elements to lie in a flat plane.